Foodborne pathogens such as norovirus, Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause approximately 2.4 million cases of disease in the UK population and impose an annual cost to society equivalent to £9.1 billion every year.
The overarching aim of this Area of Research Interest (ARI) is to empower the FSA to make policy decisions about microbiological foodborne disease based on the best evidence available.
We also commission external research to develop and refine tools and approaches, for example the development or optimisation of diagnostic tests or quantitative models. Research requirements are identified via an internal programme steering group and are informed by issues raised by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food and the FSA’s Foodborne Disease Policy Framework. Research outputs are used to inform risk assessments and technical advice, to inform policy decisions and to evaluate the performance of changes to policy.
This project analysed the data generated by industry on Campylobacter colonisation of poultry batches originating from farms with enhanced biosecurity and control farms with standard biosecurity. The study supports the activities of the FSA aimed at reducing levels of Campylobacter spp. colonisation in poultry at farm level in the UK.
This survey measures Campylobacter contamination on chicken collected at point-of-retail sale.
A report in a series providing an overview of publicly funded research relating to the microbiological safety of food has been produced by the Microbiological Safety of Food Funders Group (MSFFG).
An updated (May 2009) report in a series providing an overview of publicly-funded research relating to microbiological safety of food has been produced by the Microbiological Safety of Food Funders group (MSFFG).
This project evaluated cross-contamination guidance, published by the Agency in 2011, for industry and enforcement officers. It aimed to understand how the guidance had been received and used.
A new report in a series providing an overview of publicly funded research relating to microbiological safety of food has been produced by the Microbiological Safety of Food Funders Group (MSFFG).
A new report in a series providing an overview of publicly funded research relating to microbiological safety of food has been produced by the Microbiological Safety of Food Funders Group (MSFFG).
This project provides support for the UK participation in an international ring trial to validate the full ISO/CEN method to detect Enterobacter sakazakii.
Information on our literature review on the risks regarding microbiological hazards in dried meats such as biltong and beef jerkey.
This project provided evidence to allow the FSA to better determine what controls should be placed on meat prior to mincing.
This project involved the collection of fox carcasses and other wildlife species from around the UK for Trichinella testing.
This desk study reviewed relevant literature relating to approaches that have been used or may be used for establishing exclusion zones for bivalve shellfish harvesting around sewage discharge points. The study also assessed technical and practical applicability of the various approaches identified to the UK’s shellfish harvesting waters.
Regarding our survey on Salmonella and Campylobacter in fresh and frozen chicken for sale at retail outlets.
This project assessed the risks to human health from Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) in unpasteurised milk and milk products from goats, sheep and cows in the UK. C. burnetii is a bacterium that causes Q fever in animals and humans.
Packing poultry in a modified atmosphere (MA) with a high oxygen concentration has been suggested as a way to reduce the numbers of Campylobacter on poultry meat. High O2 MA gas mixes reduced the numbers of Campylobacter. A MA with 80% O2 and 20% CO2 would be expected to reduce the numbers of campylobacters.
This project has developed a system dynamics model of the norovirus transmission system to assess the relative importance of the different epidemiological transmission mechanisms. The model will be further developed by the FSA’s Operational Research Unit to help prioritise further research into norovirus and to model the potential impact of different interventions.
A systematic review of the persistence and survival of human noroviruses (hNoVs) in foods and the environment was carried out to answer two questions: What are the hNoV persistence characteristics in food and the environment? How can these properties be altered by applying physical and/or chemical treatments to foods or food contact surfaces?
Whereas measurement of E.coli levels provides an indicator of faecal contamination of shellfish, it is inadequate for the detection of human, enteric viruses such as norovirus. This study, covering 50 oyster harvesting areas, applied a standardised, quantitative, standardised detection method, focusing specifically on norovirus contamination.
The project assessed the effectiveness of depuration in reducing norovirus in oysters, exploring the potential for novel approaches to improve effectiveness. A literature review of available evidence provided the starting point for a laboratory project aiming to identify possible enzymatic treatments to optimise depuration and significantly reduce norovirus contamination.
An examination of published studies to determine the survival characteristics of norovirus in foods and on food contact surfaces and whether chemical or physical treatments are effective in reducing or eliminating norovirus in the food chain.
This review aimed to identify methods used to detect norovirus in food, the environment and in clinical samples. The study assessed the potential of these methods to distinguish infectious and non-infectious norovirus, focusing particularly on approaches capable of assessing whether the condition of the norovirus capsid or RNA can be used as a guide to the likelihood of the virus infecting people.
The purpose of this study was to estimate the burden of UK-acquired foodborne disease in 2009, when the second study of infectious intestinal disease (IID2 study) was undertaken, and to quantify the contribution of various food commodities to total foodborne disease burden.
This research project aims to estimate the burden and causes of infectious intestinal disease (IID) in the UK population.
This project aimed to assess the available information on the current and potential uses of viruses (bacteriophages) in food production to reduce the level of microbiological contamination (e.g. food pathogens or spoilage organisms) thus increasing consumer protection and/or increasing the shelf life of food.
This survey sampled pre-packed ready-to-eat sliced meats purchased in SMEs in the UK. Samples were examined to detect and/or enumerate Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. and hygiene indicator organisms Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae, as well as physical characteristics: salt content, water activity and pH.